Paris for breakfast, Botero’s for dinner & LE RÊVE – Las Vegas

Sur la Table in Planet Hollywood – window display

So the plan today was that I wanted to get over to The Venetian Hotel/Casino and get my Bouchon fix.    I have been to the Bouchon Bakery in Yountville and I even been to the Bouchon Bakery in The Venetian before.   However, those visits were before I had discovered macarons.    My first and only exposure so far to a macaron, were my own from the October 2009 Daring Baker’s challenge.   I was looking forward to and anxious to sample a macaron from a bakery with a reputation for their macarons…what better place for “the” macaron than Bouchon’s?    By the end of this post, I promise you that I do get there…

Paris For Breakfast

Instead of Bouchon’s for breakfast pastries and strong coffee, we headed over to Paris.   I need to preface, I am not a fan of buffets.   However, Paris’ Le Village has the BEST breakfast! With an egg bar that cooks your eggs and omelets to order, their crepes to order, the abundance of beautiful fruit and bagels with smoked salmon, a myriad of delicious breakfast foods…not to mention the wonderful pastries — it’s hands-down my favorite place to have breakfast.   Don’t go without an appetite.

Planet Hollywood Hotel & Casino (formerly The Aladdin) to visit Sur La Table

Sometime after breakfast, casino visits and window shopping through Paris we headed over to Planet Hollywood.   While hubby happily retreats to the casino, I’m anxious to visit Sur la Table in their Miracle Mile Mall.   It’s a place I like to frequent when visiting and knew exactly where to go.  As I approach the store’s location, I’m shocked to find that it’s not there!    Major disappointment.   But wait.   The spot that used to house Z Gallerie is now transformed into a mega huge Sur la Table!    I’m in awe and in focus mode as my feet automatically glides me into the store.  Happiness.

Guess What I found at Aria Hotel & Casino at City Center?

The Aria just celebrated their grand opening the day before so we headed over to check out the new City Center.   After some walking and hubby anxious to spend some time in the casino, I was interested in finding a place to rest my feet and enjoy a tasty mixed drink.    I was looking forward to something sweet and fruity, like a pina colada? I find a beautiful new bar area in The Aria.   I sit down and order a pina colada.    My server politely explains that they don’t serve that kind of drink there.   Hmmm.  Odd.   As she delivers the bad news, I happen to notice out in the distance in my view… something utterly fascinating, delicious and beautiful.    It was fate.   I have accidentally stumbled upon a patisserie!

Jean Philippe Patisserie

I had no idea there was a Jean Philippe Patisserie in The Aria.   The Patisserie is well known to be located at The Bellagio.   Beautiful dessert cases that almost look too beautiful and delicious to eat!  I did look for macarons.   They had one flavored macaron that was large and sandwiched with fresh raspberries.   It’s a spectacular display of sweet concoctions.

Violet Passion and Pom Mojito Martinis in Paris

On the way back to our hotel room to freshen up for dinner, we stopped in Paris again for some refreshments.   Hubby enjoyed some beer while I sampled:

• Pom Mojito Martini– Cruzan Rum mixed with orange and pomegranate juice and mint essence, topped with soda.
• Violet Passion Martini– Bombay Sapphire Gin, Blue Curaccio liqueur and a splash of Grenadine.

It was two tini’s for the price of one so I just had to try ’em!  🙂

Botero Restaurant at Encore

For our anniversary dinner before the LE RÊVE (compliments of the Wynn Resorts), we dined at the Encore’s Botero’s.   Before dinner we took a quick nap before spending an evening out in Las Vegas.   I could not wake up and almost wanted to postpone or cancel dinner altogether.  I was tired and sleepy.

With all the disguised smiles and energy I could muster, we headed to dinner at Botero’s.  The ambiance was very nice and the dinner was excellent.   We ordered from the Taste of Wynn menu.   Our server started us off with a basket of bread.    I quickly woke up at the first taste of fresh, warm olive bread.   I heard from Hubby that there was also bread with cranberries in the basket, but I was sold with the olive bread and was wide awake after the first swallows and realized that I was HUNGRY!   I enjoyed the following:

• Heirloom Tomato and Melon Salad with Burrata Mozzarella – A very simple and elegantly presented salad.  It was delicious and under the fanned out presentation of the mozzarella is a thin, crunchy wafer…a sheet of puff pastry perfectly lining the salad.    It was very, very good.
• Grilled Flat Iron Steak with Au Poivre Sauce – Again, beautifully presented with a small cone of the most perfectly cooked french fries I have EVER had.   Really.   I love french fries…but these had to be the most perfectly cooked fries I have ever had in my life!    Not too much salt, crispy on the outside and the inside was meaty…not too meaty – just potato bliss.    My steak was tasty too with the au poivre sauce, however, it was slightly over-cooked but not enough to ruin the texture and experience.
• Banana Bread Pudding with homemade banana ice cream – The dessert was hands-down amazing.   One taste and my eyes and all senses were on red alert.   This banana bread pudding was utterly the best dessert I’ve had in a very long time. Absolutely exceptional! (the zabaione at Il Fornaio at the New York, New York ranks up there too!).

Before our dessert was served, we were presented with a very decadent chocolate dessert with the words “Happy Anniversary” scrolled on the dessert plate in chocolate!   How sweet is that?   We didn’t mention it was a special occasion.   Interesting what details the hotel restaurant’s, stores and bars must have about you when you are charging to your room.    Nonetheless, nice details.

I regret I couldn’t have taken images/pictures during dinner.  Sometimes, it’s just not a proper thing to do in a nice restaurant…whipping out a huge SLR camera and shooting pictures.   Even pulling out my cell phone for ultimate badly exposed pictures was a stretch.    Must find a remedy for these types of situations to capture the moment!

Dessert and coffee are rushed as we have tixs to LE RÊVE this evening.   My third Cirque show and hands-down probably one of the best ones yet.   If you have the opportunity to catch this amazing production…I highly recommend it.    Stunning and absolutely breathtakingly beautiful.

Finally, Bouchon Bakery at The Venetian

It’s about 9:30 pm and I’m still determined to visit the Bouchon Bakery.   We arrive at The Venetian.  Hubby heads towards the casino and I am very excited to get to Bouchon’s for my macarons. No directions needed…I know the way.    Smiles on my face and pep in my step as I turn the corner of where the bakery is located.    Something’s wrong.  No line.  It’s dark. My heart is racing.  I can’t believe it!

I have to read the sign several times as thoughts run through my mind and I can’t concentrate.

Whew!  No worries.  We will be here on the 18th…there’s still tomorrow!